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⭐ We’re seeing stars
Chef Taylor Montgomery earned a nomination for Best Chef: Southeast. | Photo via Sierra Nevada
The 2026 James Beard Award finalists have been announced, and two of our very own culinary standouts made the cut.
Meherwan Irani and Molly Irani, Chai Pani Restaurant Group | Nominated for: Outstanding Restaurateur
The husband-and-wife team behind one of Asheville’s most celebrated restaurant groups is being recognized for its broader impact, with a nod that highlights leadership, vision, and the ability to shape a dining scene.
The Iranis recently opened a second Chai Pani location in Washington, DC. | Photo by Molly Milroy
Taylor Montgomery, Montgomery Sky Farm | Nominated for: Best Chef, Southeast
From planting seeds to plating dishes, Montgomery’s hands-on approach to regenerative farming and cooking has earned him regional acclaim, with his intimate, hyper-seasonal ticketed dinners drawing attention beyond WNC.
The Bull and Beggar’s Executive Chef Matt Dawes was also named a semifinalist for Best Chef, Southeast, though he did not advance to the finalist round.
Winners will be announced at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 15 in Chicago.
Get the care you need, close to home. | Photo via Getty Images
If you’ve had kidney stones, you know how painful + inconvenient they can be. Now, there’s an easy, outpatient solution to chronic kidney stones available with Mission Urology.
Mission’s specialists work efficiently to have your stones removed and get you home the same day. The team’s expert, comprehensive urological team is doing kidney stone procedures at the Asheville Surgery Center.
Asheville and Buncombe County’s 2026 point-in-time count found 824 people experiencing homelessness, a 9% increase from 2025, with ongoing impacts from Helene. This year marks about a 56% increase in people in transitional housing. Officials note the one-night, volunteer-based census only offers a partial snapshot of the full scope of need. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Regional
Crews are on schedule to complete Helene-related road repairs along the Blue Ridge Parkway — including reopening the parkway from between Mount Mitchell and Little Switzerland — by the end of the year. But to make it happen, expect to see plenty of heavy construction equipment along open sections between Asheville and Mount Mitchell.
Traffic
Survey crews will soon begin digging test holes along Coxe Avenue to gather utility info for the streetscape project’s infrastructure improvements. The project, which will improve pedestrian + cyclist safety, stormwater and water infrastructure, and lighting, is in the final stages of design — see renderings.
Eat
William Dissen of The Market Place is teaming up with Salty Magazine, a high-end independent food publication, to host a special Earth Day dinner featuring three Michelin-starred chefs from across the US, all united by a shared commitment to sustainability and thoughtful sourcing. Reserve your spot.
Drink
Raise a cup of locally roasted coffee to Rowan. The shop is celebrating the first year of its airy and bright West Asheville cafe this weekend with dinner and wine specials Saturday night and a bar takeover from roasting partners Isle Coffee on Sunday morning.
Festival
Slow down this summer at Lightning Bug Tiny Music Festival, an intimate arts gathering at Rare Bird Farm in rural Madison County. Check out the lineup and grab a ticket for the June 26-27 fest.
State
The NCDOT’s annual “Speed A Little, Lose A Lot” campaign has returned through this Sunday, April 5, focusing on reducing speeding-related crashes. Across the state and here in Asheville, expect increased speed patrols and checkpoints.
Featured Home
Want to live close to Fonta Flora, Point, Lookout, and Montreat trails, and just a mile from downtown Black Mountain? Check out this charming three-bedroom home, complete with a brand new deck, screened-in porch, and tons of natural light.*
And back to Meherwan Irani. Chai Pani’s James Beard finalist nod isn’t the only thing he’s celebrating — in late September, he’ll release “No. 1 Best Indian Cookbook in the World: At-Home Recipes from the Streets, Truck Stops, Villages, and Palaces of India,” teaching you how to make 100+ dishes in your home kitchen.
A trendy square-cut tank under $15 that’s a great wardrobe basic for spring and summer. It’s double-lined, soft, and has the right amount of stretch to flatter curves. Stock up in black, white, or both.
I don’t want to spoil any fun, but keep in mind that today is April Fool’s Day. We don’t have any tricks up our sleeve this year, but if there’s a local prank that really got you good, I’d love to see it.
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